Patient-reported outcome measurement: A bridge between health and social care?

Social care is under increasing pressure globally. For economically developed countries, the cost pressures on long-term care services are set to grow as governments struggle to provide high-quality social care to an ageing population and a growing number of working age adults with complex needs. In England in 2018/2019, 841,850 people received publicly funded long-term social care, primarily in care/nursing homes or in their own home with a government spend of £22 billion. However, austerity has meant social care funding in real terms has fallen. Funding per person was at a lower level in 2019 than in 2010/2011, with an estimated funding gap of £1.5 billion. This funding shortfall, projected to be at least £2.7 billion by 2023/2024, means unmet need (i.e. people going without care and support) is a significant concern. Issues around workforce sustainability and a fragmented, means-tested social care system further challenge the delivery of social care. Healthcare, too, is confronted with the challenge of delivering safe, effective, quality care in the face of constrained budgets and, with COVID-19, a rapidly changing healthcare delivery landscape. As such, stakeholders across health and social care must give consideration to initiatives that will drive improvement in outcomes and quality of care.